Maurice Burris
Maurice Burris, a 50-year-old contractor and U.S. Navy veteran, was held at the Sangamon County Jail in Illinois in late 2007. His son Jacob's federal lawsuit says he vomited and complained of severe pain for days, and that jail medical staff ignored his pleas and delayed sending him to a hospital. He collapsed in the jail on December 4, 2007, and died at St. John's Hospital on December 12, with the lawsuit attributing his death to complications from a ruptured bowel and brain injury from lack of oxygen. The lawsuit's claims have not been decided in court.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). Jacob Burris's federal lawsuit says jail medical staff ignored his vomiting and pain and delayed sending him to hospital, and that a ruptured bowel and lack of oxygen to the brain caused his death.
Reported by: Jacob Burris (son) and the family's federal lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His son Jacob Burris filed a federal lawsuit over his death at the Sangamon County Jail, alleging that jail medical staff ignored his pleas and delayed sending him to the hospital.